Resveratrol alleviates fumonisin‐induced intestinal cytotoxicity by modulating apoptosis, tight junction, and inflammation in IPEC‐J2 porcine intestinal epithelial cells

Abstract Fumonisins are common contaminants in the global food and environment, pose a variety of health risks to humans and animals. However, the method of mitigating fumonisin toxicity is still unclear. Resveratrol is a natural compound with antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory properties. In this study, the protective effect of resveratrol against fumonisin‐induced intestinal toxicity was investigated by the porcine intestinal epithelial cell line (IPEC‐J2). The cells were treated with 0–40 μM fumonisin for 24 or 48 h with or without the 24 h resveratrol (15 μM) pretreatment. The data showed that resveratrol could alleviate the fumonisin B1 (FB1)‐induced decrease in cell viability and amplify in membrane permeability. At the same time, it could reduce the accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species and increase the expression ranges of Nrf2 and downstream genes (SOD1 and NQO‐1), thereby counteracting FB1‐induced apoptosis. Furthermore, resveratrol was able to reduce the expression levels of inflammatory factors (TNF‐α, IL‐1β, and IL‐6), increase the expression levels of tight junction proteins (Claudin‐1, Occludin, and ZO‐1), and the integrity of the IPEC‐J2 monolayer. Our data also showed that resveratrol could attenuate the toxicity of the co‐occurrence of three fumonisins. It is implied that resveratrol represents a promising protective approach for fumonisin, even other mycotoxins in the future. This provided a new strategy for further blocking and controlling the toxicity of fumonisin, subsequently avoiding adverse effects on the human and animal health.